Supermarket

A supermarket, also called a grocery store is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments. It is larger in size and has a wider selection than a traditional grocery store and it is smaller than a hypermarket or superstore.
The supermarket typically comprises meat, fresh produce, dairy, and baked goods departments along with shelf space reserved for canned and packaged goods as well as for various nonfood items such as household cleaners, pharmacy products, and pet supplies. Most supermarkets also sell a variety of other household products that are consumed regularly, such as alcohol (where permitted), household cleaning products ,medicine, clothes, and some sell a much wider range of nonfood products.
The traditional suburban supermarket occupies a large amount of floor space, usually on a single level, and is situated near a residential area in order to be convenient to consumers. Its basic appeal is the availability of a broad selection of goods under a single roof at relatively low prices. Other advantages include ease of parking and, frequently, the convenience of shopping hours that extend far into the evening or even 24 hours a day. Supermarkets usually make massive outlays of newspaper and other advertising and often present elaborate in-store displays of products. The stores often are part of a corporate chain that owns or controls (sometimes by franchise) other supermarkets located nearby

Typical Supermarket Merchandise
Larger supermarkets in North America and Western Europe typically sell a great number of items among many brands, sizes and varieties, including:
•Alcoholic beverages (as state/provincial and/or local laws allow)
•Baby foods and baby-care products such as disposable diapers
•Breads and bakery products (many stores may have a bakery on site that offers specialty and dessert items)
•Books, newspapers, and magazines, including supermarket tabloids
•Bulk dried foods such as legumes, flour, rice, etc. (typically available for self-service)
•Canned goods and dried cereals
•Car-care products (motor oil, cleaners, waxes)
•CDs, Audio cassettes, DVDs, and videos (including video rentals)
•Cigarettes and other tobacco products
•Clothing and footwear (typically a general, limited assortment)
•Confections and candies
•Cosmetics
•Dairy products and eggs
•Delicatessen foods (ready-to-eat)
•Diet foods
•Electrical products such as light bulbs, extension cords, etc.
•Feminine hygiene products
•Financial services and products such as mortgages, credit cards, savings accounts, wire transfers, etc. (typically offered in-store by a partnering bank or other financial institution)
•Flowers
•Frozen foods and crushed ice
•Fresh produce, fruits and vegetables
•Greeting cards
•Housecleaning products
•Housewares, crockery and cooking utensils, etc. (typically limited)
•Laundry products such as detergents, fabric softeners, etc.
•Lottery tickets (where operational and legal)
•Luggage items (typically limited)
•Meats, fish and seafood’s (some stores may offer live fish and seafood items from aquarium tanks)
•Medicines and first aid items (primarily over-the-counter drugs, although many supermarkets also have an on-site pharmacy)
•Nonalcoholic beverages such as soft drinks, juices, bottled water, etc. (some stores may have a juice bar that prepares ready-to-drink freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, etc.)
•Personal hygiene and grooming products
•Pet foods and products
•Seasonal items and decorations
•Snack foods
•Soft drinks
•Tea and Coffee (some stores may have a commercial-style grinder, typically available for self-service, and/or a staffed coffee bar that prepares ready-to-drink coffee and tea beverages)
•Toys and novelties
In some countries, the range of supermarket merchandise is more strictly focused on food products, although the range of goods for sale is expanding in many locations as typical store sizes continue to increase globally